2018 Toyota 4Runner: Steering complaints
Owner-reported issue (NHTSA complaints, not a recall)
Symptoms
NHTSA has 12 owner complaints for the 2018 Toyota 4Runner that list the steering component. Complaints are individual owner reports, not verified defects.
Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11771792 (filed 10/17/2026): “Maplewood toyota dealership service negligence resulted in a severe, 2-tooth mechanical misalignment of the steering intermediate shaft splines. the vehicle was subsequently driven for 11 months under extreme structural binding, inducing unmeasurable metallurgy fatigue on a primary control linkage, …”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11710152 (filed 01/10/2026): “This vehicle was purchased from don chalmers ford in rio rancho on 1129, 2025, upon purchasing a 2018 toyota foreigner limited i traded in a 2020 acura rdx with only 50,000 miles. the salesman seemed to trustworthy. he showed me the carfax clean had no accidents no recalls then i receive some paperw…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11528809 (filed 06/26/2023): “There was a clunking noise coming from the front end when steering. got worse over time. also had a vibration in the front end at speeds above 45 mph. dealer recommended replacement of upper steering column shaft assembly and dust boot cover along with lower intermediate steering shaft. the manufa…”
Likely causes
These complaints do not establish a single root cause; read the examples above and get a diagnosis.
Fix, in plain English
No single fix is established by these reports. Check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls, ask a dealer about technical service bulletins (TSBs) or extended warranty coverage, then have the system diagnosed.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Electric power steering faults typically need module diagnosis with a scan tool and calibration. (Our assessment.)
Cost
No sourced cost range for this issue. Get a written quote after diagnosis.
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
Page last updated .